Albert Pujols remained on 659 career home runs, one behind Willie Mays on the career list. There were plenty of long balls otherwise. The Angels got all their runs — and hits — off Seattle starter Marco Gonzales via a trio of solo shots.
Trout connected for one of those off Gonzales and added a three-run drive in the eighth against reliever Taylor Williams to pull the Angels within 7-6. Trout has three home runs in the two games since the birth of his first child and has 44 in his career against Seattle.
“That last ball was absolutely mangled,” Angels manager Joe Maddon said. “He’s on top of everything right now, the at-bats are good, the pitches he had been fouling off prior to the birth are not being fouled off right now so bully for him.”
Carl Edwards Jr. pitched the ninth for his first save, and Seattle snapped its four-game losing streak.
“We’ve seen him do that a lot. We’re up in games against them, four or five runs and you’re saying, ‘We’re still up if he hits a home run,’ and sure enough, he hits a homer,” Seattle manager Scott Servais said of Trout.
Seager’s three-run shot in the third was a jolt Seattle’s struggling offense needed. Seager’s 200th career home run landed in the second deck of the right field seats and gave Seattle a 3-1 lead. Seager joined Ken Griffey Jr., Edgar Martinez and Jay Buhner as the only four players to hit 200 home runs with the Mariners.
“I appreciate the company but I think I still got a little while to go to catch those guys,” Seager said. “But 200 is definitely something I’m very proud of. It’s not something that I necessarily thought was going to be part of my game growing up or anything like that, or even when you break in.”
Lewis finished with two more hits, giving him a major league-best 20 through the first two weeks of the season. His RBI single in the fifth gave Seattle a 4-1 lead. In the seventh, Austin Nola added a two-run double and rookie Evan White snapped an 0-for-17 skid with an RBI double.
Gonzales (2-1) gave up solo home runs to Trout, Max Stassi and David Fletcher but was otherwise strong. The lefty didn’t walk a batter and struck out seven.
“I felt like again this week had a good game plan and executed it,” Gonzales said. “Really three mistakes and they capitalized. I can live with solo homers.”
Angels starter Julio Teheran made his first start with the Angels after signing a one-year deal in the offseason.
Teheran (0-1) was on a limited pitch count after being slowed by the coronavirus in his ramp up for the season. Teheran threw just 52 pitches and was pulled with two outs in the third inning.
“I wasn’t expecting to go as long like a normal start, but I didn’t know it was going to be 55 pitches,” Teheran said. “It’s obviously something they’ve got under control. They’ve been controlling my pitches and I think they know how to handle that.”
TRAINER’S ROOM
Angels: Maddon said he doesn’t see SS Andrelton Simmons returning anytime in the immediate future from his sprained left ankle. Simmons went on the 10-day injured list on July 28. Maddon said while Simmons is progressing in his recovery from the injury, it’s not going as quickly as hoped.
Mariners: RHP Kendall Graveman will miss more than one start due to his neck strain, Servais said. Servais didn’t have a timeframe on Graveman’s recovery, but it’s clear it will be more than just 10 days. Nick Margevicius will take Graveman’s turn in the rotation on Saturday.
UP NEXT
Angels: RHP Dylan Bundy (1-1, 2.84) makes his second straight start against Seattle. Bundy threw six innings and allowed three earn runs but lost to the Mariners in his last start.
Mariners: RHP Taijuan Walker (1-1, 4.35) makes his third start of the season. Walker was brilliant his last time out, throwing seven innings of one-hit ball in a victory over Oakland.
